Police still investigating reported shooting in downtown Lewiston

Police remain at the scene Saturday afternoon after an early morning shooting on Bartett Street in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Police late Saturday were still investigating reports that shots had been fired earlier in the day in downtown Lewiston.

Several witnesses reported hearing a series of at least five shots fired about 6 a.m., near the corner of Bartlett and Walnut streets.

Police who responded spent the morning searching the area for a victim after finding a blood trail in the street and other signs that shots had been fired. Several hours later, Lewiston police Lt. David St. Pierre said no victim had been found.

Police said it appeared the shooting took place at or near 135 Bartlett St.

“You could follow the blood trail for at least 100 yards,” said Charles Soule, who lives in that building.

Several people took to Facebook on Saturday morning to report hearing gunfire followed by the scream of police sirens in the area. One woman said she was asleep when she was roused by the sound of gunshots.

At 1 p.m., police remained at the scene, where detectives had cordoned off the area while collecting evidence and seeking witnesses to the shooting.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” St. Pierre said.

It was not clear Saturday night how many people were involved in the shooting or what motivated it. Some witnesses reported a fight between two groups of men shortly before shots rang out.

According to St. Pierre, the investigation was still active late Saturday.